Requested rule addition to Middle East Forum

[Craig234]

The Middle East Forum has a list of many restrictions on commentary. I'd like to request one be added:

"Suggesting that any group wants to commit genocide/wipe out another group is not permitted."

Some of the current rules prohibit some similar things, such as not calling a group terrorists, but I think this specific thing needs to be added.

It's a common rhetorical tactic, to say 'that group wants to wipe the group I support off the face of the so, we're just defending ourselves'. It's a way of dishonestly dehumanizing and demonizing a side of the conflict, defended with a thin pretense by finding someone who sometime said such a thing to say 'see, they said it'.

I'll cite a post I saw today as an example of the problem.

People have to understand the Muslim thought on this.
Yes, not all Muslims, but "ALL" of Islam.
The Jews are decendents of apes and swine, and need to be ethnically clensed from the earth.

One could use the same argument to say that the western feels the same about Jews, saying not all westerners agree, but the citing Nazis. And the effect of this dehumanization and demonization and its purpose is then all too transparent, as one of the two 'solutions' this stated problem is to kill all Muslims.

Untill Islam evolves, or is wiped out,
there is nothing anyone can do

I see this libelous demonization constantly, and I feel discussion of the topics would be improved by limiting such concerns to substantive, factual cases of actual proposals or current statements and such, rather than basically saying, 'they're monsters who want to kill everyone, so the only solution is to kill them all first'.

Indeed, a book I recently read on Mossad's history is named after this quotation they use to justify killing, "Rise and Kill First" - anything they do is justified by demonizing the target. It's a blinding mentality in war and in argument.

 

[TheParser]

1. I never post in the I/P subforum because I am terrified of violating its strict posting rules.

2. And now I have just decided that I had better bypass the Middle East subforum, too.

 

[Craig234]

1. I never post in the I/P subforum because I am terrified of violating its strict posting rules.

2. And now I have just decided that I had better bypass the Middle East subforum, too.

I'm pretty hesitant to post there myself, and my first reaction seeing it was to feel some rules are excessive, so I didn't expect to suggest one be added.

But here we are. No response yet though.

 

[Craig234]

Wait, what is the I/P forum, Israel/Palestine? I don't see that, only Middle East.

 

[Juks]

Just an add to your request. I find the rules for that forum needs an overhaul. For example the rule you mentioned: Not calling anyone a teorrristorganisation seems a little strange since the military branch of HAMAS is classified as a terrorist organization by, among others, the EU, Israel, Japan, Canada, the United States, Egypt, Australia and the United Kingdom. Hamas is therefore seen as a support organization for terrorism and has on several occasions had its assets frozen by anti-terrorism laws.

Soo, an overhaul al together

 

[bomberfox]

The Middle East Forum has a list of many restrictions on commentary. I'd like to request one be added:

"Suggesting that any group wants to commit genocide/wipe out another group is not permitted."

Some of the current rules prohibit some similar things, such as not calling a group terrorists, but I think this specific thing needs to be added.

It's a common rhetorical tactic, to say 'that group wants to wipe the group I support off the face of the so, we're just defending ourselves'. It's a way of dishonestly dehumanizing and demonizing a side of the conflict, defended with a thin pretense by finding someone who sometime said such a thing to say 'see, they said it'.

I'll cite a post I saw today as an example of the problem.



One could use the same argument to say that the western feels the same about Jews, saying not all westerners agree, but the citing Nazis. And the effect of this dehumanization and demonization and its purpose is then all too transparent, as one of the two 'solutions' this stated problem is to kill all Muslims.



I see this libelous demonization constantly, and I feel discussion of the topics would be improved by limiting such concerns to substantive, factual cases of actual proposals or current statements and such, rather than basically saying, 'they're monsters who want to kill everyone, so the only solution is to kill them all first'.

Indeed, a book I recently read on Mossad's history is named after this quotation they use to justify killing, "Rise and Kill First" - anything they do is justified by demonizing the target. It's a blinding mentality in war and in argument.

Ive only accused one person of wanting to commit genocide because he admitted it.

 

[Craig234]

Ive only accused one person of wanting to commit genocide because he admitted it.

My rule isn't about pointing out a person advocated genocide; it could be argued the poster I quoted had. It's about the demonization of groups with exaggerated claims they are trying to commit genocide in order to justify actions against them; it's similar to some other rules, but an important addition as this is a very common attack made. It's almost endless and ongoing. 'We can't be reasonable with those people, they want to wipe us off the map'.

 

[RedAkston]

The moderation team will be looking into a possible re-write of the ME forum rules in the near future.